Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-10-05
THE SLOVACKS.
How They Come to America and What
They Come For.
H. No,r Vcrlr


Take the i'm migrants fir ON Hur gary,
for example, whose british condition
in the Pennsylvania mining regions
has been the subject of so much writ
ing. The number arriving in this
country from Austria, Bohemia and
Hungary in the last fiscal year was
40,135, or 40 per cent. more than
were admitted in the preceding year.
Toe contract labor law has not
checked immigration from that region.
1t is asserted that the contracts are
now made secretly by the agents STA
toned abroad, or more openly after
the arrival of the immigrants at this
port. At all events, the Law appears
TO be q weapon of no value for use
with regard to the class of persons
whom it's authors had in mind. OF
the immigrants who have come from
England in the last thirteen years,
from 49, TO 20 per cent. 1.-THE proper
ton varying from year to year, have
been skilled workmen. The percentage
ofskilled labor in the cases of Scotland
and France has been even greater. In
the case of Austrian immigrants. in
1885 it was only 2-3 per cent. and
of the Hungarians less than % per
cent. were skilled. But the number of
immigrants from Hungary has rapid
ly risen from only 373 in SIT to 49,
SO7 in 1887.
The report of Consul Sterne, of
Buda-Pesth, shows that these immi-
grants are for the most part Slovacks.
They do not come to America to re-
main ana become citizens, but their
aim is to accumulate here what is to
them fortune, and they usually OBJ
tain this fortune in about three years.
And what is the sum which they strive
to obtain? About $500; perhaps not
more than $500. We recall state
ment ascribed to one of them, who
was about to return at the end of his
term of service, that for four years he
had lived here at a cost of only $5 g.
month. AS his wages had been SIS q
month he had saved 1924, and was
looking forward to q life
of ease in country where
he could be comfortable after
his fashion $50 a year. We are
told by Consul Sterne that in Hun
gary their homes are huts of one
room, wherein all the members of q
family are huddled together by night
as we'll as by day. "From all can
learn" he says, "their demand for
water is very limited for the use Of the
outer body as well as the inner"
Their diet is milk, potatoes, corn, and
rye, with, occasionally, when they are
laboring in cities, "the remnants or
offal from the restaurant" Those
who are familiar with scenes in the
mining regions of Pennsylvania know
how strong is their appetite for the
worst liquor made. At home their
favorite drink is potato brandy. GAS
many of them as can," says the con-
sui, 'smen and women alike, will pack
themselves into room or cellar over
night, without the least regard for
cleanliness" In Bada-Pesth the health
authorities are frequently compelled
to dislodge them from ''these disease
breeding pest holes" Concubinage is
so general among them that in Hun
gary it Is publicly acknowledg-
ed evil. Consequently the number
of Legitimate children is large. The
mortality among children is appalling.
1t is due In large measure to the rude
and barbarous treatment, to which
they are subjected by the mothers,
whose ignorance of hygiene is dense,
and who are prevented by supersti-
ton from using ordinary medical rem
edies. ST am of the opinion" says
Consul Sterne, "that with the present
condition of the labor market in the
United States there is no room for
this class OF people" Nor does he
think that under more favorable con-
ditions for labor these Slovacks would
be desirable acquisitions. SIT will
surely require generations to make
them enlightened citizens" But it is
unnecessary to regard them as citizens
OF any kind. They do not remain
here. They not become naturalized.
And as fast as they save their money
they send it back to Hungary. In
many respects they closely resemble
the Chinese immigrants, and the argu-
ments that have been used so success
fully against the admission of the
Chinese tan be used with almost equal
force for the exclusion Of these persons.
Indeed, the court records in the mining
districts Indicate that they are less
desirable than the Chinese because of
their criminal tendencies.